Game #1 at Chesapeake Preview

The Ohio Machine’s first official watch party will be held at Park Street Patio (533 Park Street, Columbus, OH 43215) on Saturday, May 5, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Broadcast

Fans can watch the action live on ESPN3.com at 7:00 p.m. or on tape delay on SportsTime Ohio at 11:30 p.m. Or you can listen live via radio at www.herbfm.com.

Records (W-L)

The Ohio Machine (0-0)

Chesapeake Bayhawks (1-0)

Match Preview

The Ohio Machine begins its 2012 season on the road for two weeks starting off in Annapolis, Maryland, to play the Chesapeake Bayhawks in its first ever Major League Lacrosse game. The Machine is looking to become the second MLL expansion team in league history to win its first MLL contest.

Many Machine players will be returning to Annapolis to challenge their former team, including attackmen Buggs Combs and Chazz Woodson, midfielders Dan Groot and Jordan Levine and defensemen Kyle Hartzell and Ray Megill.

Player Notes

Attackman Buggs Combs will face his former team for the first time since joining the Machine in the offseason. Combs spent the last four years with the Bayhawks and has the fifth most goals in Bayhawks history with 83.

Along with current Machine players Buggs Combs and Ray Megill, defenseman Kyle Hartzell won the 2010 MLL Championship with the Bayhawks. Hartzell was also named the 2010 Championship Weekend MVP. Hartzell was traded from the Bayhawks to the Machine in the offseason for the Machine’s seventh round MLL Expansion Draft pick (13th overall).

Saturday’s game will be defenseman Brett Hughes’ first MLL game since the 2009 season. Prior to 2009, Hughes played with Los Angeles and New Jersey and was named to the MLL All-Star game as a member of Los Angeles.

Faceoff specialist Anthony Kelly will begin his seventh MLL season and his fourth with a new team on Saturday. Kelly has been a dominant presence at the face-off X throughout his career. Kelly is currently second among active players in faceoff wins with 881, only trailing Chesapeake midfielder Alex Smith, who has 1029.

Goalkeeper Stefan Schroder will be making his first career MLL start this Saturday against the Bayhawks. Last season with the Rattlers, Schroder played in one game, allowing two goals and tallying four saves in 31 minutes of action.

Team Notes

Home Sweet Home - Eight players on the Machine’s roster played collegiately in Maryland and seven will see action on Saturday. Buggs Combs, Dan Groot, Ray Megill and Max Schmidt played at the University of Maryland. Johnny Rodriguez and Kyle Hartzell played at Salisbury and Josh Porcell played at UMBC.

All-Star Studded Lineup– Eight current Machine players have been named to an MLL All-Star game in their career. Defenseman Greg Bice (2007, 2010 and 2011) and midfielder Anthony Kelly (2008, 2009 and 2011) have been named to the team three times throughout their careers. Attackman Chazz Woodson (2008), defenseman Brett Hughes (2008), defenseman Ray Megill (2009), midfielder Jordan Levine (2009, 2011), goalie Brian Phipps (2011) and defenseman Kyle Hartzell (2011) have also been named to previous MLL All-Star teams.

Coach’s Thoughts

Coach Garber on team chemistry: “They have to be smart and willing to play together. We have strong leaders including Woodson, Bice, Kelly and Hughes who will be the leaders for the younger guys and able to help the guys when things go wrong and not get flustered when things don’t work perfectly all the time.”

Coach Garber on opening game: “Our guys are up to the challenge and looking forward to opening the season against Chesapeake. I want to see how we handle the initial reaction to an actual game. Until it’s lights, camera, action, you don’t know what will really happen and don’t have a comfort zone set yet. But because we have a majority of veterans, they won’t be intimidated by the situation and will use it to their advantage.”

Scouting Chesapeake

The Bayhawks won their first game of the season when they defeated the Long Island Lizards, 13-11. Midfielder Ben Hunt had a team high six points (3G, 1 2ptG, 1A), and veteran midfielder Kyle Dixon scored a two-point goal to tie former Barrage midfielder Roy Colsey for the most two-point goals in MLL History.

Up Next

The Machine will play fellow expansion team, the Charlotte Hounds, on May 12th in Charlotte, NC, at 7 p.m. The Machine will then open up its season at home on May 19 with a bang against the Rochester Rattlers at 8 pm. The home opener will consist of the National Anthem sung by singer-songwriter Kate Voegele, OSU Sports Medicine Night with a commemorative rally towel giveaway and post-game fireworks presented by Bud Light. For ticket information call the Machine at (614) 754-1973 or visit www.theohiomachine.com/tickets.